The Thankful Priest – Leyla King

Hi, I’m Leyla.

I’m an Episcopal priest, author, Palestinian American, and small church advocate – all of which are part of my identity as the Thankful Priest. Click here to learn more.

Daughters of Palestine

Daughters of Palestine is now available for pre-order wherever you get your books. Release-date of the paperback is July 8 but you can get an early digital copy by joining the Launch Team

Small Churches, Big Impact Collective

As one of the founders of the Small Churches Big Impact Collective, I’m passionate about the dynamic nature of small churches. The average Episcopal church has an average Sunday attendance of 40. Yet these small churches, all around the nation, are having a big impact on their members and communities. Click here to learn more.

Palestinian Anglicans and Clergy Allies

Palestinian Anglicans and Clergy Allies (PACA) is a grassroots organization of Palestinians – both living in the land of Palestine and in the diaspora – who are members of the Anglican Communion worldwide, and the ecumenical alliance of clergy and seminarians who support them. Our goal is to educate and equip the clergy of the Church in the global West to understand, teach and preach from sound theological and pastoral foundations about the realities faced by Palestinians. Click here to learn more.

The Thankful Priest
Blog

While I am an author and speaker, my blog is where I pen my most personal reflections.

Check out the Thankful Priest Blog by clicking here or scrolling down below.

Latest Blog Posts

  • A Piece of Broiled Fish

    A Lectionary Reflection for the people of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church for worship from home, April 18, 2021 Year B, 3 Easter Acts 3:12-19Psalm 41 John 3:1-7Luke 24: 36b-48 In the name of the Father and of the Son and… Continue reading

  • White-ish, Part II

    A note to my readers: Some time ago, I published a blogpost in which I referred to myself as “sort of” white.  I got an inordinate amount of feedback, both positive and negative, some just curious, some weirdly aggressive, about… Continue reading

  • Ash: Part Two

    A note to my readers: this post is the second part to another one, published at the very beginning of Lent. As I write this now, it is Good Friday. So much has happened in the wilderness in between. But… Continue reading

    Ash: Part Two

  • The Trauma of the Empty Tomb

    A Lectionary Reflection for the people of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church for worship from home, April 4, 2021 Year B, Easter Day Acts 10:34-43Psalm 118:1-2, 14-241 Corinthians 15:1-11Mark 16:1-8 In the name of the Father and of the Son and… Continue reading

  • Ash Wednesday: Mortality & Grace

    A reflection on scripture for the people of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church for worship from home, February 17, 2021, Ash Wednesday Isaiah 58:1-12Psalm 103:8-142 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of… Continue reading

  • Don’t Put Jesus in the Freezer!

    A Lectionary Reflection for the people of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church for worship from home, February 14, 2021, Year B, Last Epiphany 2 Kings 2:1-12Psalm 50:1-62 Corinthians 4:3-6Mark 9:2-9 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and… Continue reading

  • Ash Part One

    I was not expecting the holiness.  The messiness, yes.  I was expecting that.  The time it took: these things always take a ridiculous amount of time, so I knew to set aside at least 90 minutes, maybe more.  Mostly I… Continue reading

  • Do Church

    From the beginning of the pandemic, I decided to refrain from doing any sort of video recording for Sunday morning worship for my congregation.  Thankful Church offers no livestreaming or pre-recorded liturgy for our congregants.  Instead, for numerous reasons that… Continue reading

  • Repent and Believe

    A Lectionary Reflection for the people of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church for worship from home, January 24, 2021, Year B, 3 Epiphany Jonah 3:1-5, 10Psalm 62:6-141 Corinthians 7:29-31Mark 1:14-20 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and… Continue reading

  • Caught Up

    A Lectionary Reflection for the people of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church for worship from home, January 17, 2021, Year B, 2 Epiphany 1 Samuel 3:1-20Psalm 139:1-5, 12-171 Corinthians 6:12-20John 1:43-51 In the name of the Father, and of the Son,… Continue reading